Tourism champion urges local gov’t to tap domestic tourists

PALOMPON, Leyte, Dec. 9 (PNA) -– The local government here, known as the region’s tourism champion, has encouraged towns and cities to look into the gains from local tourists and not just focus on benefits from foreign visitors.

Town Mayor Ramon Oñate said that for tourism activities to become successful, there should be aggressive promotion of destinations to local tourist since they are more active than in the past.

“Before, we don’t hear our parents convincing their children to go out for family bonding, but now parents are asking their children to do it. These are the people that we need to convince to visit our local tourist destinations,” Oñate added.

In northwest part of Leyte province alone, Oñate said that there are more than 800,000 potential tourists that can be invited to visit local destinations like in this town’s Kalanggaman Island.

Palompon is a hall of fame awardee for best tourism oriented town in the country by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines.

The town is known for Kalanggaman Island, a premiere tourist destination in the province popular to tourists due to its turquoise clear water and sand bar.

Palompon had generated more than PHP14 million from January to October this year from entrance fees in Kalanggaman Island. This is nearly double the PHP8 million earnings in 2015.

Recently, the local government also opened to tourist the Liberty Eco-Terrestrial Adventure Park that will serve as alternative destination.

Oñate, however, said that although they have been promoting their town for tourism, the local is firm on its stand not to allow big establishments to flourish.

“We want to maintain and project our town as an eco-friendly tourism area,” Oñate said. (PNA)
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